Emma Beck

Decision - Employee-related decision

Outcome: Control of non-qualified staff (Section 43 / Section 99 order)

Outcome date: 2 May 2024

Published date: 8 May 2024

Firm details

Firm or organisation at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: MIR Legal Limited

Address(es): 782 Manchester Road, Bradford BD5 7QP

Firm ID: 569502

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Who does this decision relate to?

Emma Beck, whose last known address was in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

A person who is or was involved in a legal practice but is not a solicitor.

Summary of decision

The SRA has put restrictions on where and how Ms Beck can work in an SRA regulated firm.

It was found that Ms Beck was involved in a legal practice and has occasioned or been a party to an act or default which involved such conduct on her part that it is undesirable for her to be involved in a legal practice in any of the ways described in the order below.

The facts of the case

Ms Beck was employed as a legal assistant at MIR Legal Limited of 782 Manchester Road, Bradford BD5 7QP (the firm) from September 2018 until sometime in 2022. The firm is a recognised body.

On dates between December 2019 and December 2021, she took receipt of cash payments from clients on behalf of the firm, totalling £4,300, which she did not account for in accordance with the firm's procedures.

Ms Beck was dismissed by the firm following an investigation into gross misconduct relating to the missing client funds.

She also failed to return the firm's property which had been provided to her during the course of her employment, namely a laptop and printer.

Decision on outcome

An order pursuant to section 43(2) of the Solicitors Act 1974 was imposed as Ms Beck's conduct meant that it was undesirable for her to be involved in a legal practice without the SRA's prior approval. The order pursuant to section 43 was made with effect from the date of the letter or email notifying her of the decision.

Ms Beck was also ordered to pay the SRA's costs of £600.

What our Section 43 order means

1. no solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with his/her practice as a solicitor;
2. no employee of a solicitor shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the solicitor's practice;
3. no recognised body shall employ or remunerate her;
4. no manager or employee of a recognised body shall employ or remunerate her in connection with the business of that body;
5. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to be a manager of the body; and
6. no recognised body or manager or employee of such a body shall permit her to have an interest in the body

except in accordance with the SRA's prior written permission.